Niger State to distribute 1,000 trucks of subsidised grains for Ramadan

In a bid to alleviate the financial strain on residents during Ramadan, the Niger State Government has unveiled plans to deploy 1,000 trucks filled with assorted grains, available at subsidised rates across the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.

During a stakeholders’ engagement at Government House in Minna, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago—often referred to as Farmer Bago announced the initiative. He explained that the meeting was convened to devise strategies for reducing food prices during the holy month, noting that a private sector initiative, Niger Foods, has secured millions of tonnes of produce to ensure the state’s food sufficiency.

Under the scheme, each Local Government Area is set to receive 10 trucks of grains every 10 days throughout Ramadan. In addition, an extra 500 trucks of assorted grains will be distributed free of charge to those identified as particularly vulnerable within the community.

To oversee the distribution process, two distinct committees will be established in each Local Government Area. One committee, comprising members from the formal sector, will manage sales to civil servants, while the other, which will include religious and traditional leaders alongside market organisers, will coordinate sales for the wider public.

The Governor further indicated that sales at subsidised rates will be conducted on a quarterly basis to ensure that affordable food remains accessible to all. Highlighting the state’s agricultural success, he revealed that revenues from the agriculture and livestock sectors have reached 50 billion Naira, underscoring the significant potential of the sector.

In a related development, Governor Bago disclosed that a surplus of 5 billion Naira, accumulated through stringent cost-saving measures, is being allocated towards the construction of new hospitals to benefit the populace. He urged all individuals involved in the distribution process to act with the utmost integrity, cautioning that any misconduct would be dealt with severely.

Committees tasked with overseeing the operation are expected to finalise their implementation templates within the coming week, ahead of the food items’ release. The stakeholder meeting saw the participation of representatives from the Imam Forum, NLC leadership, Local Government Council Chairmen, Secretaries of the eight Emirates, as well as delegates from the All Progressives Congress and various market associations.

Odigie Ehidiamen Kelvin